Beneath the Hierarchy | Hierarchy - Kim Rian

Chapter 12 - Revenge, Desire, Romance: The Heart of the Matter Part 2

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The next morning, Rian and Jia made their way to school together, their fingers intertwined in a comfortable hold. As they stepped out of the car, the familiar hustle and bustle of the school greeted them. Hera and Woojin were already waiting by the entrance, and the moment Hera spotted Jia, she bounded over with a wide grin.

"Jia!" Hera exclaimed, practically launching herself at Jia and wrapping her arms around her. "You're finally here!"

Jia laughed, surprised by Hera's enthusiastic greeting. "Hey, Hera! It's so good to see you!"

Without warning, Hera dragged Jia away from Rian, clinging to her arm as if she hadn't seen her in ages. Rian's eyes narrowed in mock annoyance, and he shot Hera a playful glare.

"Hey! Watch where you're taking her, let go!" Rian called out, trying to keep his tone light but failing to hide his hint of jealousy.

Hera stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh, No way Kim Rian. Jia's mine for now!" She turned her attention back to Jia, ignoring Rian's playful grumbling.

Jia giggled at the silly argument unfolding in front of her. Jia laughed at their antics, shaking her head as she looked at Rian's sulking face. "You two are like children," she said, amused. chuckling as Woojin came up beside Rian.

Woojin patted Rian on the shoulder with an amused smile as he joining the fray, chuckled as he saw Rian's jealous expression.. "Looks like Hera's got her own way of getting what she wants."

Rian sighed, but the corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile. "Yeah, I see that. Come on, let's head in."

The two boys followed the girls into the school. As they approached their private room, the familiar faces of Yeji and Bada joined Hera and Jia, adding to the lively chatter that filled the space.

Once inside, Rian and Jia made their way to the couch. Rian, with a smirk, took Jia by the arm and gently pulled her down to sit next to him. "You're staying with me," he said, his voice a mixture of firmness and affection. 

Hera's eyes narrowed as she saw Rian's possessive gesture. "Hey!" Hera said, crossing her arms and pouting playfully. "What's the big idea, Rian? Jia was just about to tell me about her weekend!"

Rian gave Hera a teasing grin. "Oh, I just wanted to make sure Jia was comfortable. And I don't think she was planning to tell you anything without me."

Jia leaned into Rian's side, resting her head on his chest as he wrapped his arm around her. "Let's not argue, okay? We're all friends here."

Woojin, seeing the playful tension between Rian and Hera, chuckled and gave Hera a quick kiss on the lips. "Don't worry, Hera. Rian's just being a big ol' softie. Besides, you're the one who wanted to hear all about Jia's weekend. I'm sure she'll share. There's plenty of time for us to hang out too."

Hera glared at Woojin for a moment, then grinned as she snuggled closer to him. "I guess you're right. But you better not hog her all day."

As Woojin sat down on the opposite couch with Hera, Jia felt the comfortable warmth of Rian's arm around her. She leaned in closer, laughing softly at the playful exchange. The atmosphere in the room was light and full of affection, laughter and light conversation as they all settled into their usual spots. The easy camaraderie among them was evident, with each of them sharing stories and jokes.